Teens More Likely to Drive Under the Influence After Riding with an Impaired Driver

3/17/2014For Release: March 17, 2014

Article Body

Motor vehicle crashes due to alcohol and drug impairment can
involve both driving while intoxicated and riding with an impaired driver. In
the study, “Association Between Riding With an Impaired Driver and DrivingWhile Impaired,” published in the April 2014 Pediatrics (published online March
17), researchers studied data from first three years of the NEXT Generation
Study, which included a nationally representative, longitudinal sample of 10th
graders starting in 2009-2010. Teens who rode with an impaired driver were
significantly more likely to drive while impaired, compared to those who
reported never riding with an impaired driver. Furthermore, the earlier and
more frequently teenagers reported riding with an impaired driver, the more
likely they were to drive while impaired. Also, teenagers who reported
obtaining a driver’s license earlier were more likely to drive while impaired
compared to those who obtained a driver’s license later. This and other studies
have found that exposure to parental and peer drinking and driving during
adolescence is associated with a higher probability of driving while impaired
within one year, and during young adulthood. Study authors conclude that in
addition to well-implemented substance use, designated driver, and other
drinking and driving prevention programs, parents should model safe driving,
refrain from drinking and driving, reinforce the dangers of drinking and
driving, delay licensure, and monitoring teens’ riding as well as their driving
behavior.

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The American Academy of
Pediatrics is an organization of 62,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric
medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the
health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young
adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org.